“Art is essential.” – Juan Velazquez
Story by Katie Robb, AMA Intern, Summer 2023
Muralist Juan Velazquez has only been on the DFW art scene for three years, but if you’re a resident, odds are you’ve already seen his work during your daily drive.
Velazquez completed his first mural in 2020, and since then has created over 150 murals in Texas, including Fort Worth and Arlington, plus California and Colorado.
One of the many things that makes Velazquez a revolutionary artist is the way in which he chooses locations for his massive murals. He has a heart for serving and community, and typically creates his murals in lower income neighborhoods. He sees it as his duty to put beautiful and inspiring things in not-so beautiful areas to serve as inspiration for the people living in these communities.
“What about the poor sides of a town that aren’t downtown or in the entertainment district; do they not deserve a mural?” Velazquez asked. “Should they not get up in the morning and look at a mural? I feel like it helps, it’s like getting a haircut, you feel good, you feel different. When you walk out of your neighborhood and see a tag that has expletives written all over it, and you have potholes and no streetlights, that makes you feel depressed. But you walk outside and see a mural, someone that looks like you and it’s in a positive way, makes you believe in yourself, and I feel like everyone should have that.”
Back in 2020 when he was first starting out, you could find him practicing his spray-painting technique at The Fabrication Yard in Dallas, a free space full of buildings that serve as blank canvases for artists to practice their craft. He noticed that inclusivity wasn’t being shown toward him during his early days as an artist, so as soon as he “made it”, he made sure to be that inclusive mentor toward up-and-coming artists.
“A lot of people didn’t want to help me when I started my art career, so I just found people that wanted to help, but they needed teaching, so I taught them art. It was easier to find people that had the same mindset as me and teach them, than to find people that knew how to paint but didn’t have the mindset. I have a group of five or six artists that I’ve trained, and they know how I work because I taught them.” Velazquez said.
One of his proteges, Armando Aguirre, is following in Velazquez’s footsteps and creating numerous murals around the greater DFW area. Known as “Artemando” in the art space, simply scroll through his artistically curated Instagram @arte.mandoto see his murals of Frida Kahlo, sugar skulls from El Día de los Muertos, and more iconic Latino representation oozing from his art. Aguirre’s Instagram bi-line reads, “Brown by Honor” with a capital “H”, and you can feel that honor and beauty at first glance of his works.
Aside from building up other local artists, Velazquez volunteers frequently at several local non-profit organizations, including Artes de la Rosa, The Boys and Girls Club, and My Brother’s Keeper, teaching painting and working with gang prevention.
Velazquez frequently speaks to middle school and college audiences, as well. Spreading awareness about art and culture through education is something he is wildly passionate about. He believes it’s what makes a city thrive.
“The best cities in the world don’t have the most jobs, they have the best culture. And artists are the caretakers of the culture. It’s not ours, we’re just caretakers of it, and we control it. Some people don’t understand the value we bring to a city.” Velazquez said.
“All the arts matter, not just painting. I’m talking about music, dance, theatre, all of it. That stuff is so important, and life would be really boring without it. But think about every time there’s a budget cut, art is the first to go because we’re labeled non-essential. But I would disagree that art IS essential.” Velazquez said.
Velazquez made headlines this past spring for a controversial mural he painted on the side of Gilberto’s Taco Shop in Arlington. The mural displays the infamous moment from 2016 when Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor punched Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista. City officials were worried the mural was inciting an act of violence and that the mural’s dimensions were too large, but Velazquez argued that it’s a part of the city’s history, culture, and identity as a sports town.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross agreed with Velazquez, and let the mural stay.
The mural brings many customers every week, another thing Velazquez keeps in mind when scouting for mural locations. He’s focused on building up small, local businesses that come from humble beginnings.
“People come to see my murals and then pop into local businesses to dine, shop, and enjoy their time.”
Whether it’s helping fellow local artists, small business owners, or local youth, Velazquez has a main mission in his personal and professional life.
“When you get to my position, help somebody, be the difference.” Velazquez said, adding that he’s going to change the landscape of this city. “Maybe you can’t do it with one mural, maybe you can’t do it with two, but what’s a hundred or two hundred murals going to do?”
It’s this love for his city and his people that drives him to keep moving forward, mural by mural.
“You can’t love something and not worry about the future of it.” Velazquez said with fire and honesty oozing out of his gaze.
See more at kingvelazquez.com and @velazquez_art_
Katie’s interview with Juan Velazquez was inspired by two exhibits at the AMA: Hometown Harmonies (on display from June 3 – Sept. 24, 2023) and José Guadalupe Posada: Legendary Printmaker of Mexico (on display from October 21, 2023 – January 7, 2024).
How inspiring!! Great article!
Fabulous article! What an inspiring artist!